SuzukiSavage.com /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1619038835 Message started by springman on 04/21/21 at 14:00:35

Title: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by springman on 04/21/21 at 14:00:35 Just wondering what you guys think. The L bracket that attaches the gas tank to the frame on the S40 broke on this last trip. Even if I could weld, I do not think I would attempt to weld on a gas tank. I am therefore thinking of reattaching the L bracket to the tank with JB Weld. Is this futile or is it worth a try?

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by verslagen1 on 04/21/21 at 14:17:40 It's possible. I would get a piece of material and bend it to the same angle with large bend radius. Then glue it to the 2 pieces.  You could pop rivet it to the bracket piece as well.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/21/21 at 16:12:04 The bracket would be much stronger brazed. Sometimes paying for something is better. A bodyman at the local bent car fixit shop could do that either brazing or not welding in a few minutes. You should be in and out for twenty bucks and a twelve pack. You might have to check a few places, if you see a bike in the parking lot, best start. Dealership shops, meh, probably not. Independent shops, best bet. Announcing yourself and needs at the office Not best approach Mozy in a back door, strike up a conversation with a bodyman, ask about guys who do work at home, blah,blah,  you get the idea..

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/21/21 at 16:12:40 I've worked in bodyshops..

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by youzguyz on 04/22/21 at 00:35:43 Just my opinion and my experience, as best as I can remember it. JB Weld, steel putty, and such things set up ROCK hard.  There is no flex. They will crack.  The first time mine broke, I used steel putty. My welder cussed up a storm as he had to grind it off then I had to have it bead blasted, so he could weld to metal.  He bent and welded a plate over the crack in the bend.  The next time, the bracket cracked at the end of his plate.  The next time (or the time after?), a spot weld that holds the bracket to the tank broke and gas was leaking.  He wouldn't touch that.  He would have had to cut the bracket off and redo the entire thing. I filled around the bracket with JB weld.  That was when I started looking for a new tank. Once that bracket breaks, there is no fix that will last forever.  But I went YEARS on those fixes.   Each one lasted a good while. AND, you have to remember, I ride off road.. too much...  Much more abuse than usual. I have also went through two rear fenders.  Learned my lesson from those and I packed the third one with steel putty in the void between the fender and the license plate bracket before I put it into service.  No problems.. yet.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by Eegore on 04/22/21 at 05:18:21 JB Weld, steel putty, and such things set up ROCK hard.  There is no flex. They will crack.  This has been my limited experience.  I have only used JB on maybe 100 - 150 metal items and I can only recall 30 or so of them having significant vibration and I can't recall a single one not coming apart.    I would remove the tank, clean it, have it welded or brazed as JoG suggested.  Not seeing the break I am not sure about rivets, but I'd choose those over JB.  This way you aren't just waiting to see if the JB held up.  Once you got a general idea of cost, including your time, I'd compare that to a replacement tank as well.  I see used ones all the time.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by Serowbot on 04/22/21 at 07:38:26 Just an odd thought... I wonder if a super magnet or two attached to the bracket would be strong enough to hold the tank in place? https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/neodymium-super-magnet-assembly-na011200n-with-key-ring-35-lbs-pull-chrome-plating?infoParam.campaignId=WR&msclkid=cb90c72e18411e155b09a7af910e5613&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BADL%5D%20%5BPLA%5D%20%5BFasteners%20%26%20Hardware%5D%20%7BAll%20Fasteners%20%26%20Hardware%7D%20(Good)%20-%20%5BHigh%20Priority%20SKUs%5D&utm_term=4582352161105810&utm_content=Fasteners%20%26%20Hardware%20-%20All%20Fasteners%20%26%20Hardware%20-%20(Good)&adlclid=cb90c72e18411e155b09a7af910e5613 http://https://images.globalindustrial.com/images/enlarge/MST_NA011200N.jpg

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by springman on 04/22/21 at 07:44:58 Thanks for all the comments. I was thinking of adding material to the bracket and JB Welding somewhat like what Versy said, but it does sound like finding somebody to braze or weld it would be best. I'll update when repair is made. Thanks.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by springman on 04/22/21 at 07:46:09 Cool Sero. That is thinking outside the box! :)

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by MMRanch on 04/22/21 at 08:04:54 How about a super magnet  and JB Weld ?   :-? ................. Springman , a small independent shop will want $25 to braze it for ya .   Brass can be built up like working with a hot glue stick but brass rods are pricy when ya buy them.   That idea of using a thicker piece of steel next time is a good plan.   Don't just put it back like it was because that wasn't good enough.   How is the other side doing ?    A build up of brass in time might save the other side from having a similar problem later ? When working with JB Weld and steel ... I've found that drilling 1/4" holes in the new metal for the JB Weld to ooze up through helps hold the new piece into place ( gives the JB more surface to grab) , be sure to have metal to metal surfaces .  Good luck with it buddy .  :)

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by springman on 04/22/21 at 10:10:04 Thanks MM. I have not taken the tank off yet. The bike was washed in put in the garage. I am riding the Honda for now. Since I have not taken the tank off I am not sure what you are referring to when you say what the other side looks like. Here is the picture I took of it.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/22/21 at 11:59:55 When using epoxy, adjusting the mix to suit the job is reasonable. Less hardener yields a slightly more flexible product. The cure temperature matters. If you use jb, mix enough to do the job and have a reasonable lump left over to study as it cures. Don't mix on cardboard. It soaks up some of the light elements. Metal, hard plastic, okay. The extra needs to be spread thin, like the project, and kept at the same temperature.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by Dave on 04/22/21 at 12:08:49 It appears your bracket is broken all the way through.  Welding or brazing it would provide a repair that will likely be fine for a very long time.  If you were here I would Mig weld it for you in a couple of minutes.....easy fix and it would not even mar the visible paint on top of the tank (you would need to remove the paint for 1/4 inch either side of the crack.  Brazing requires a lot of torch heat and definitely would get a lot of heat into the tank.....it would be my second choice for a repair.  JB Weld would not hold unless you used a repair plate to span across the crack and provide a lot of surface area for the epoxy to grab onto.....and the parts need to have the paint removed and roughed up where you will be applying the JBWeld. I have a blue tank that is nearly perfect if you decide to replace your tank...I think this is the same color as your bike. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1615654773

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by springman on 04/22/21 at 15:19:52 Thanks Dave.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/22/21 at 15:41:11 Wet rags can keep heat away from places

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by ohiomoto on 04/22/21 at 16:02:04 I'd go with Dave's tank or JOGs route.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/22/21 at 19:04:27 I'm curious why it broke. Youhave bushing above and below the flange?

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by springman on 04/23/21 at 08:39:45 JOG, I'll post some pictures once I have the tank off. Do not know the answer to your questions at the moment.

Title: Re: JB Weld for broken gas tank L bracket Post by Dave on 04/24/21 at 04:20:31 I may be over simplifying this - but I believe cracks are caused by stress and vibration.......I am not sure the crack can move without either (although cracks can also be created by stresses resulting from large changes in temperature). Out of curiosity - are these tank mount cracks occurring more often on bikes that have raised the front of the seat using spacers?

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